Chapter 309 120: The Awaited Visitor Is Her, the Magnanimous Young Master Jiang, Hao Xinren

"Xie Jianjia was kidnapped on her way to be exiled to the Canglan Sword Sect. As her fiancé, someone supposedly deeply in love with her, you don't seem worried or anxious at all."

"Why is that?"

"Is Xie Jianjia hiding in your Prince Zhenbei's Mansion?"

The moment he heard this, Xiao Teng's expression changed instantly. He never expected Jiang Lan to question him so bluntly in front of everyone.

Besides, looking back, his actions lately did seem rather suspicious.

But his formidable willpower allowed him to recover quickly, his expression turning calm as he betrayed no hint of anything unusual.

"Jiang Lan, I have no idea what you're talking about. The Xie Family colluded with Demons; their exile and downfall were well-deserved. Knowing this, there's no way I would stoop to their level."

"Xie Jianjia was my fiancée, it's true, but now that she has been exiled to the Canglan Sword Sect, she is no longer my concern."

"Don't you dare try to frame the Prince Zhenbei's Mansion."

He stared at Jiang Lan, his voice low as he replied.

On both banks of the river and aboard the many painted boats, the cultivators and other spectators who overheard the exchange were inwardly shaken, and many began to speculate.

The scandal of the Xie Family colluding with Demons and their subsequent downfall had caused a massive uproar in the Imperial Capital...

The Xie Family's daughter, Xie Jianjia, had once been personally titled Princess Xiahuang by Emperor Xia and even granted her own domain. Yet, on her way to exile at the Canglan Sword Sect, she was kidnapped.

'Could it really have been the work of the Prince Zhenbei's Mansion?'

"Is that so? Since you put it that way, Xiao Teng, you'd better make sure you've hidden Xie Jianjia well. Don't you dare let me find her."

Jiang Lan chuckled, his tone dripping with condescension and casual disdain.

"You..."

Waves of fury surged across Xiao Teng's face, but he suppressed them with gritted teeth. He gave a direct order for the Cloud Boat to turn and head for the riverbank.

On the riverbank, Emperor Xia grew pensive upon hearing this exchange.

'Even she had no idea where Xie Jianjia truly was.'

'Now, it seemed very likely that Xiao Teng had hidden her away for her own protection.'

'This is for the best. Knowing Xie Jianjia's character, she will surely be grateful to the Royal Family for this kindness in the future. It's far better than her falling into the hands of the Prime Minister's Mansion.'

'Xiao Teng's acting has fooled quite a few people lately. He even managed to keep me in the dark.'

'If I hadn't come to the Desire Immortal Pavilion today and happened to run into them, I might never have known...'

As she thought this, she felt a sense of relief.

After all, the Prince Zhenbei's Mansion was a faction loyal to the Royal Family. For many years, Prince Zhenbei, Xiao River, had always been diligent in his duties, obeying her commands without a hint of disloyalty.

Compared to the inscrutable Jiang Lan, Xiao Teng's disposition was far simpler, making him much easier to control.

In a way, Xiao Teng could even be considered her senior brother in training; the National Master, Ge Qixing, had already taken Xiao Teng as a Disciple before he began tutoring her.

Although this incident had occurred, it did little to dampen the festive mood of those in the Desire Immortal Pavilion.

News of the confrontation quickly spread throughout the Imperial Capital, thanks to those with a mind to spread it, sparking fervent discussion.

She watched as the painted boat carrying Jiang Lan drifted toward the center of the river.

After a moment's thought, Emperor Xia instructed her four maids to wait for her. She then stepped forward. The Void before her wavered, and in an instant, she vanished.

When she reappeared, she was already aboard that exceptionally luxurious painted boat, adorned with carved beams and countless Golden Lamps.

None of the patrolling guards noticed how she had appeared there.

By the time they collected themselves and were about to demand her identity, Emperor Xia produced a Jade Pendant engraved with the character 'Jiang.' Under the guards' shocked and deferential gazes, she strolled casually toward the third floor.

Mist and clouds drifted, filling the air with a rosy haze. Amidst it all, a troupe of young women, some with heavy makeup and others with light, their fragrant shoulders bare, sang softly and danced with grace.

Beneath their graceful forms, their Linglong bodies were fair and delicate. Draped in nothing but gowns as thin as gauze, they were a tantalizing, half-hidden sight.

Emperor Xia's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossing her face at the scene before her, but her expression remained calm and composed.

She considered for a moment, then, as she walked forward, she casually pulled one of the women into an embrace. However, she found the scent of the woman's powder and rouge overpowering and unpleasant.

With a wooden expression, she pushed the woman away and then wove Magic around herself to keep her own clothes and person clean.

'If it made her seem strange, so be it. She didn't particularly care.'

"And who might this be?"

At the banquet table, the group of young Celestial Prides, deep in conversation and drink, hadn't even noticed someone had entered.

Only the more powerful Chi Yunxiao sensed something was amiss. He glanced toward the open door of the private room and was the one to ask.

Jiang Lan, seated at the head of the table, gently swirled the bronze cup in his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Hearing the question, he looked over as if just noticing the newcomer, a timely look of surprise appearing on his face.

"This gentleman is Hao Xinren," Jiang Lan said, his tone part explanation, part introduction. "I owe him my life."

"Hao Xinren?"

Hearing this, the young Celestial Prides were stunned for a moment, their faces showing a mixture of surprise and bewilderment.

'Are you sure that's his name?'

"Young Master Jiang certainly has a good memory. I only mentioned the name in passing that day, yet you remembered it."

Emperor Xia replied, her face a mask of composure. She seemed to treat the young Celestial Prides as if they were thin air, not sparing them so much as a glance.

"Well, you did save my life. How could I possibly forget?"

"But Hao Xinren, why the sudden visit today? You didn't send word ahead."

"I would have had my people make preparations. I still haven't repaid you for saving my life."

Jiang Lan smiled and gestured with his hand.

Seeing this, the young Celestial Prides took the hint, tactfully rising and leaving their seats to give the two of them the room.

They weren't fools. It was clear that this "Hao Xinren" had a powerful and unfathomable cultivation.

And since he had come looking for Jiang Lan personally, they clearly had private business to discuss.

"You're certainly very trusting, Young Master Jiang," Emperor Xia said, glancing around the now-empty room.

"If you intended to harm me, you've had plenty of opportunities," Jiang Lan replied.

"Trusting others so easily isn't always a good thing."

Emperor Xia found a clean chair and sat down, getting straight to the point. "I happened to be on the riverbank just now and saw you arguing with someone, Young Master Jiang. As it happens, there's something I don't understand, and I was hoping to ask you about it."

"And while I'm at it, I can return this to its rightful owner."

As she spoke, she placed the Jade Pendant with the 'Jiang' family name on the jade table before her.

The unspoken implication was clear: she was trading the favor of saving his life for the answer to a single question.

Jiang Lan glanced at the Jade Pendant, in no hurry to answer. He simply said, "If this is something that even you don't know, what makes you think I would have the answer?"

"Whether you know or not, I must ask to find out," Emperor Xia said.

Jiang Lan looked at her and smiled. "And what if I do know, but choose not to tell you? Or, for that matter, why should I tell you the truth?"

"I will be the judge of whether it's true or false."

Emperor Xia said. She hadn't actually expected Jiang Lan to be truthful; she was simply trying to probe him.

'Even she couldn't deduce what was in that Exotic Stone, how could Jiang Lan know?'

'She just wanted to probe, to see if Prime Minister Jiang Lintian knew something.'

"You want to ask about the Exotic Stone from the auction, don't you?" But Jiang Lan spoke as if he had read her mind, his gaze fixed on her deep, brilliant eyes.

Emperor Xia froze. She shot to her feet, her eyes locking onto him.

At the same time, a tyrannical and terrifying aura began to emanate from her.